Why a Golf League?

The Real Life Golf League started as a fun way to connect people during the summer of 2020 with the Covid-19 pandemic keeping our in-person indoor Church events closed. In what will be the third year of the Real Life Golf League, it has really grown into a unique opportunity to make fun memories together and meet new friends at Real Life. Whether you’re competitive and enjoy friendly competition, or just are looking for a fun summer activity, everyone is welcome! The most important thing is just to be out together having a great time whether you’ve played your entire life, or are just picking up playing.

League Rules

Same format as last season

Best ball Scramble: Both you and your partner will hit each shot and you will then choose the best ball to play. This will continue until you hole out. Since you are playing against another team, whichever team scores lower wins that hole (Matchplay Style Scoring).

Prior to the Round

#1: Start Time-We will be teeing off in a shotgun format. Please arrive as close to 5:15 pm as possible to get your green fees paid and set up ready to play. Green fees are roughly $13 per person if you are a member of the Oaks, and $26 if not. We will be teeing off at 5:30 so please be ready to go at the practice green at that time. I’ll be using a text/email to send everyone their assigned match partner for that evening and we will also circle up before we start.

#2: Absent Players and Missing Weeks-We all miss weeks, it happens, but please let Jacob know as soon as possible! Your partner will play the scheduled match alone, but play two balls at once.

On the Course

#3: Scoring-We will be using a match play style of scoring. However, we still will score from the tee until the ball is in the hole. Please keep accurate individual scores for your team and your matched team. At the end of the night, submit a photo on the website, or text Jacob an image of your scorecard for our records.

Sample Scorecard

Here’s an example scorecard. Notice how each score is recorded while also keeping track of the match in the boxes below. “AS” stands for all square. A 1up indicates a player is one hole ahead of their match partner. The “2&1” simply means Player 1 won the match by being two holes up with one hole remaining. This is because Player 2 is technically eliminated from winning after the 8th hole in this example. As another example, If a player was 5up after just winning the 5th hole, the match would end 5&4, because they are five holes ahead with four to play. Finally, in this scorecard example, notice Player 2 actually finished with a lower score after 9 holes but still lost the match. This can happen in match play so it’s important to remember you can always come back from a bad hole! Please continue to play and score all 9 holes even if your match has been decided!

#4: Ball Position-Since the Oaks has had a few issues with flooding, or just general areas where the ground is torn up; you can fluff your ball if your lie is unfair because of one of the previously mentioned issues. Play your ball within a foot of your partners.

#5: Bunkers-If it is a particularly wet day, the bunkers are usually flooded or concrete like at the Oaks. Before we start for the night Jacob will decide if bunkers are “in play.” If we rule they are not in play, it simply means we will allow a drop, no closer to the hole, behind the bunker without incurring a stroke penalty.

#6: Scrambling Ball Position-Once you choose which ball to play, whomever’s ball wasn't chosen will place their ball within 1 foot of the ball in ball and hit first. It can be placed on either side of the ball within a foot. However, if a ball is on the edge of the rough, you cannot place it in the fairway. After the dropping player has hit then the other player will hit the original ball. For putts use a marker/tee to indicate the original ball position. Please do your best to play every shot close to the original position as best as possible.

#7: Conceding Putts-Typically in match play, putts can be conceded by your match partner of any length. We will be following the same rule. It is important to remember you must still accurately score the hole. Even if a putt is conceded, that still counts for the stroke it would have taken to hole out. Your matched Team also can refuse to concede putts and force you to putt them of any length. This is very likely and encouraged when matches are close!

#8: Penalties-If you or your match partner believes your ball is hit out of bounds or is generally lost you will be required to hit a provisional second tee shot before leaving the tee-box Unless your partner has put a ball in play. If your first ball is OB or cannot be located, you will then play your provisional tee shot as your 3rd shot. We however will not be enforcing penalties for grounding your club in a hazard, accidental contact, or ball movement as long as it is not excessive.

#9: Lost Balls-We are setting a 3-minute limit when looking for a lost ball. If a ball cannot be located while thought to be in a fairway within the timeframe, and both match partners agree the ball should be in the fairway; you may drop a new ball without incurring a penalty. If a ball is lost in the rough or generally outside of the fairway if the ball is not found you may drop from the spot you believe the ball is located and incur a one-stroke penalty. Finally, if a ball is hit after a tee shot and enters a hazard you may drop behind where the ball entered the hazard with a one-stroke penalty.

#10: The New Rules of Golf-Starting in 2019 the USGA implemented new rules that we will be using if you so choose. If a ball is hit out of bounds a player may decide instead of hitting a provisional or dropping from the same location to instead place their ball at the spot where it last crossed the fairway before heading out of bounds. Unlike normal stroke and distance penalties choosing this will result in a two stroke penalty. Also you may putt with the flag stick in.

#11: Tee Positions-The Tee you play from will help us ensure all matches are competitive.

Men

0-5 Handicap: Blue

6-16 Handicap: White

18+ Handicap: Gold

Women

0-10 Handicap: Gold

10+ Handicap: Red

*HANDICAP RANGES ARE BASED ON SCORE YOU WOULD LIKELY SHOOT FROM WHITE TEES FOR THE SAKE OF SIMPLICITY. IF YOU TYPICALLY PLAY GOLD AND HAVE A HANDICAP SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN 18, YOU ARE FINE TO STAY AT THAT TEE.*

#12: Everything Else-If there is uncertainty about a rule, talk to your match partner and try to reach and consensus. We’re out there to have fun and make friends so if you can’t control it, just let it go! If you can't find a reasonable answer then talk to Jacob for a ruling, or in general about any rules that don't make sense!